Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service is facing the loss of eight fire engines and two fire stations under new proposals put forward by the local fire authority.
The Liberal Democrat–run authority is considering two options, both of which would see fire engines in the county reduced from 30 to 22. A fire authority meeting is scheduled for mid-November, where a public consultation could be approved.
Buckinghamshire has already faced some of the worst cuts in the country, with the service losing over a third of its firefighters between 2010 – 2024.
The Fire Brigades Union warns that any further cuts would seriously undermine public safety and says it is time to switch focus from managing decline to rebuilding and growing the service.
Mitch Wallace, FBU brigade secretary for Buckinghamshire said:
Buckinghamshire FBU has consistently campaigned for investment, growth and resilience in our service. This county has already suffered some of the worst cuts in England, with more than a third of firefighter posts gone.
Instead of looking for more ways to reduce resources, we need a new focus: securing the investment that allows us to rebuild, recruit and retain firefighters. This is especially critical in harder-to-staff areas, where crewing shortages put lives at risk.
The fire authority should be lobbying the government for the funding we desperately need. The priority must be to invest in recruitment, retention, and resources to protect every community in Buckinghamshire.”
Chris Wycherley, FBU executive council member for the Southern region said:
For too long, fire and rescue services have been hollowed out by systemic underfunding and short-sighted mismanagement. Fire stations and fire engines are not expendable – they are essential community assets that protect lives, homes and businesses.
Every closure and every cut leaves communities more vulnerable and erodes response standards further. Cuts today mean weaker response tomorrow. To keep firefighters and the public safe, we must invest in our fire services and ensure firefighters are available when emergencies occur”
Local authorities should join with the Fire Brigades Union in lobbying government for proper, sustained funding. The future of our service must be built on growth, resilience, and investment – not a dangerous race to the bottom.”
Steve Wright, Fire Brigades Union general secretary said:
This summer, firefighters from across England were called upon to travel to the South coast to battle a blazing wildfire due to a lack of resources. With the climate emergency resulting in increasingly severe major incidents, it's clear that the fire and rescue service is in urgent need of investment.
Losing resources locally threatens the safety of residents, and impacts fire cover everywhere. The only way to keep the public safe is to invest in crews, so that when an emergency happens there are firefighters available and ready to go.
Cuts kill. The FBU is calling on Labour to put an end to this dangerous austerity, and the union encourages all fire authorities, councillors, MPs, and members of the public to join the call for funding."
